Combined easel



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. SMILLIB. COMBINED EASEL, BLAGKBOARD, AND WRITING DESK. No. 284,251. Patented Sept. 4. 1883.

N. PEYCRS. Phma-Lhhnanplltr, Wuhingten. D. C.

(No ModeL) zsneets-sneet 2. R. SMILLIE.

COMBINED 'EASEL, BLAGKBOARD, AND WRITING DESK. $10,284,251. Patented-Sept. 4, 1883.

WI NEESEE: Inn/ENTER: M, fiwme u. PUERS. Phmum m m. Wm; nnnnnnn c.

PATENT OFFICE.

Bonnier sMILLIn, OFSPBINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.

COMBINED ,EASELIQBLACKBOA RD, AND WRITING-DESK.

PEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 284,251, dated September 4, 1883. l Application filed January 2, 1883. (No model.)

To an whom it may concern I Be it known that I, ROBERT 'SMILLIE, of Springfield, inthe county of Sangamon and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in a Combined Easel, Blackboard,

and WritingDesk, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a combined easel, blackboard, and writing-desk, hereinafter more fully explained.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show two different adjustments of the blackboard, a third being indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2; Figs. 3 and 6, similar perspec-- a I5 tive views of the contrivance adj usted for use as a desk; Fig. 4, a view illustrating the manner of attaching the board to the ease], and Fig. 5 a view showing the positionof the hinge in securing the adjustment shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The purpose of. my invention is to provide a neat and serviceable article of furniture capable of use as an easel for generalpurposes, a blackboard-easel, on which the board may be readily adjusted to different heights and inclinations, and awriting-desk, and this I accomplish by constructing the device or article in the following manner.

A represents the easel proper, consisting of front legs, a, and cross-braces b, suitably framed together, and rear legs or braces, c, hinged to and adapted to fold against the front legs or frame, as usual; or a single rear leg or brace may be used, if preferred.

, B represents a front brace or frame, hinged or jointed to the main front frame, at or close to the lowerend thereof, and adapted to swing outward away from the main frame at its up per end, or to fold into and flush with the same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively; and 0 indicates a boardor fiat body, preferably of wood, and suitably framed to prevent warping or splitting, and to give a neat finish.

This board is covered on one side with cloth,

oilcloth, or other suitable covering commonly used for desk and table tops, or may simply be finished smooth, while the other side is surfaced with material suitable for surfacing blackboards, either; the liquid slating commonly used or other preparation capable of producing the required surface. The board 0 isate tached to the easel or frame A by hinges or connections D, consisting each of a long link, d,

and a short link, 6, the first pivoted to the easel, the second to theblackboard-frame, and the opposite ends of the two links jointed to each other, as plainly shown in Fig. 4. The attachment to the frame of board 0 is at its lower side, and the manner of adjusting the board is as follows: The easel is first spread to give it a broad base or support, the separation of its legs being limited by a chain or cord, f, which extends from the cross-brace of the rear legs to that of the front legs, and thence to the cross-bars g of the front brace or frame B. If, now, it be desired to use the blackboard, as such, at amedium elevation and with a slightly greater inclination than the front of the easel, the board is raised up and the frame or brace B is drawn slightly forward beneath the edge of the board 0, which is then allowed to rest upon the upper edge of crossbar g of said frame. To prevent slipping, the board may be recessed, or provided with short pins to fit upon the bar b, or to enter shallow sockets therein, if found necessary. If the board is wanted at a lower elevation, the frame or brace B is pressed inward flush with the front of the easel, and the links d, hanging down from their pivots, permit the board to fall to the position shown in Fig. 2, from which position it can be raised to and held in that indicated by dotted lines in the same figure by simply swinging the links 01 upward about their pivots to the position shown in Fig. 5, the short linkse being in each case swung forward of the links (I to permit the latter to swing back of their centers or pivots and preventtheir accidental turning down. When a writing table or desk is desired, the links dare turned upward, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the front frame or brace, B, is drawn forward, as shown in the first of said figures, and the board is brought down and caused to rest upon the brace, with the covered or finished face upper;

most. To further adapt the affair for use as a ,desk, a shelf, E, is secured in the easel-frame in position to form a continuation of. the table, as in Fig. 4, a back, h, being provided to prevent articles from falling off the rear side.-

When the blackboard is in position for use, the shelf E is entirely closed. in, and writing materials, books, 850., may therefore be kept within the inclosed space, protected from dust or dirt and hidden from View.

F represents a second and shorter "brace or frame hinged or jointed to the frame B, and

adapted to be drawn out with or independently of frame B. This second frame is designed to support the board 0 to form a desk when the links are dropped down to the position shown in Fig. 6, thus affording a low desk for children. Finally, if it be desired to use the easel, as such, to hold other articles than the blackboard and table, the frame B may be drawn forward beyond the length of links (I, the board dropped down to the position shown in Fig. 2, and the frameB pressed back against the frame of the board, in which position its upper edge or the cross-bar y will be in position to receive. such other article, and owing to the inclina- 'tion of the frame there will be no danger of its accidentally swinging outward or the board 0 may be turned down and suspended from the links and its upper edge made to support a second frame or body.

The article may befinished up in any style desired, and forms a neat and useful article of furniture suitable for homes and for schools.

I am aware that a blackboard has heretofore been hinged in a suitable frame and adapted to turn down to form a'desk; but I am not aware that such board has ever been finished or covered on one side to adapt it especially I do not claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isv 1. In combination with an easel, a board having a blackboard surface on one side and a finished or covered surface on the other side, said board being hinged to the easel and adapted to turn up against the same to expose the blackboard surface, or to turn down away therefrom to expose the finished or covered face at will. g

2. In combination with the easel A, the board 0, hinged or connected thereto by links 01 6, whereby it is adapted to be adjusted, as explained.-

3. In combination with an easel having an outwardlyswinging brace jointed atits lower end to the front frame of the easel, ,a board, 0, hingedor jointed to said frame and adapted to swing outward and downward and to rest upon the upper edge of the brace, substantially as shown and described.

4. In combination with easel A, provided with brace B, board 0, jointed to the easel by f links (I e, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with easel A, provided with a shelf, E, in rear of the front frame of the easel, a board, 0, hinged to the easel, and adapted to swing over the shelf, as explained. 6. The herein-described article of furniture, consisting of easel A, having braeeframes B F and shelf E, and board 0, having one face finished to form a table and the other to form a blackboard, and jointed to the easel by links (1 6.

ROBERT SMILLIE.

Witnesses:

D. S. JoHN'soN, JAMEs'C. OONKLING. 

